Department of Defense November 16, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, has prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposed development by the Exxon Mobil Corporation and PTE Pipeline LLC (Applicant). The Draft EIS evaluates project alternatives and potential impacts to the environment which may occur from the Applicant's proposal to construct industrial infrastructure and produce liquid hydrocarbon resources near Point Thomson, Alaska. The proposed project includes the construction of structures in navigable waters of the United States (U.S.) and the discharge of dredged and/or fill materials into waters of the U.S., including wetlands. The proposed work requires authorization from the Corps of Engineers under Section 10 of the Rivers and Harbors Act (RHA) of 1899 and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Draft EIS will be used to evaluate the Applicant's Department of the Army permit application and compliance with NEPA. Draft EIS Availability: Electronically available for viewing, copying, or printing at: https://www.pointthomsonprojecteis.com. A printed Executive Summary, which includes 2 Compact Discs containing the entire Draft EIS, can be obtained electronically through the project Web site address immediately above. Draft EIS Comment Period: The 45-day review and comment period begins on November 18, 2011 and ends on January 3, 2012. Send written comments, postmarked by January 3, 2012, to: Harry A. Baij Jr., U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Alaska District, Regulatory Division, Post Office Box 6898, JBER, AK 99506-0898. Send electronic comments, received by January 3, 2012, to: comments@pointthomsonprojecteis.com.

Section 2715 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010, Public Law 111-84, amended the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 to change the authority of the Department of Defense to convey property to a local redevelopment authority (LRA) for purposes of job generation on a military installation closed or realigned under a base closure law. Such a conveyance is known as an Economic Development Conveyance (EDC). Economic Development Conveyances were created by amendments to the Base Closure and Realignment law in 1993, creating a new tool for communities experiencing negative economic effects caused by the elimination of a significant number of jobs in the community. Congress recognized that the existing authority under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 (as amended and otherwise known as the Real Property Act) was not structured to deal with the unique challenges of assisting base closure communities with economic recovery and job creation, many with decaying or obsolete infrastructure and other redevelopment challenges. Under this revised authority, the Department is no longer required to seek fair market value for an EDC. An EDC may be for consideration at or below the estimated fair market value, including without consideration. The amendment expands the flexibility of the Department regarding the form of consideration it may accept, including the authority to accept consideration in the form of revenue sharing or so-called ``back-end'' funding. Back-end funding is consideration consisting of a share of the revenues that the LRA receives from third- party buyers or lessees from sales and leases of the conveyed property, consideration in kind (including goods and services), real property and improvements, or such other consideration as the Secretary considers appropriate. The amendment also provides that the Department's determination of the consideration may account for the economic conditions of the local affected community and the estimated costs to redevelop the property. This final rule amends the existing regulation on reutilization of installations closed under the base closure process to conform to the amendment to the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Act of 1990 and makes other improvements that encourage expedited property transfers for job creation that allow for the Department to recover a share of the revenues obtained.

In compliance with Section 3506 (c) (2) (A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Defense Security Service (DSS) announces the proposed extension of a public information collection and seeks public comments on the provision thereof. Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the information to be collected; and (c) ways to enhance the quality, utility and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the information collection on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology.